Operator for electric switches



Jan. 16, 1951 J. c. PONSTINGL 2,538,036

OPERATOR FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Jan. 50. 1948 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR Zf/ John C. Ponsfz'ngl.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED PATENT FrF lCiE ELEQTRIOSSWIETGHES John .0. zPOIlStillBl, glittsburgh, 2a., -;assi gnor ito Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East :Pitts- ,bultgh, Pa, -:a. corporation of Pennsylvania appuesfiunemuary 30, T9 18, Seria1Nos5358 a -8 GIaims. 1

.My invention :relates to eleetromagnetically operable switches and, moregparticularly, to-ser- Another 'objectof myzinven'tion is the provision of an operator assembly that may #be assembled and disassemhleduas a'funittrom the electromag- 'n'et'ic switch, :and which in use Lpro'vides for :sub-

stantially rectilinear movement of the operator upontmagnetization oftheiarma'ture forraotuating the operator.

Other objects and advantages will become read iily apparentiftom a study of the specification and the accompanying drawing illustrating certain :preferred embodiments, and Zin which:

Figure 1 is .a perspective view of the operating meansi'fora switch;

Fig. 2 is a side View of myinventionwith certain parts shown insection to more clearly illustrate thetnovel features; v

.Fig. .321 :aplan'view iof a d'eta'il ofrmyainvention; and

Fig. 4 is-fa plan viewo'f amodification offa -detail of my invention. 1

In the :figtures .of the drawing, the reference Character ii designates the .base :or control :panel to which may :device, -use,' is :seoured. The :E shaped magnet 2 is provid'edwi thaspair of heavy laminations .3 at the outer surfaces provided with the :flanges 4 :and 5 .formoun'tinglthe E-shaped :magnetEto the base L The magnet structure -is soamourited on'rthe base I that the .openpart of the E :facesidown'wardly, that is,-the legs Fl ran-(1 8lai eldirected downgand with the stem :9 being disposed so :as :to project horizontally fromitheibase. The dis'oosition mentioned 'of the parts is the aisual o'ne use f but my invention isznot 'limitediin use toithezparticular position :shown or described. The-disclosure of my device with reference -.to a .verti'oal base Ll is merely illustrative.

The middle leg I, or :core, carriessthe energizing coil in held in place by friction or some simple readily displaceable coil holding :mea-ns not constituting part-of my presentinvention.

To the forward leg *8, I secure the generally rectangular 'plate A I. This plate 5-H is zp iovided yoncl the upper surface of the stem 9 and the lower surface of .thezarmature M. Theseitabseare slightly undercut at the junction of the tab with the main 3 portion of the rectangular plate.

x ,2 :amount of zuhclerci-lt :suoh that the 'transyerse dimension of the-tab atithe under-cut is substantially equal; or a trifle :less than the distancebe- :tweenrpoints il Sand 16 ioniathe frame ['51 shown in Figs. land v3, or.:su-bs-taht'ial1y equal oria trifiealess than the distance :between {edges 128 and 19 :of frame :2,0,;sho'wn inFigA.

(I'he frames iiliTElzl'ldaZB have a'pioture-frameappearance and :are selected to gnite :thin tough sheet metal tozathus inieffeet caot:asza :knife edge bearing element on the tab neckswhenthecparts are assembled as showniinfi igs. 1 and '2.

who armature 'zcarnying zoperator :frame is built -uphf two.partsaidenticalzinshape. :lnthemanu- -faCtUIB.-Of$hEQFHTI'tS,-.3 75113316 stamping idlieblS used. 'Fl he e-ri'ght-zhand .part 2:4 is a generally i'ueshaped :flat member having aoutwamily idireoted ieet 2 :and 3 connected to theendsroi ."the ieg-s ofithe The upper foot :22 ahas la toe .m'emberJ-M :bentat right angles toward the left, as :seen :in Fig. *1, 0f the foot 222. She too member 24 is :provided "with'rairea'rwarzdly dizredtedsprojection :2 5 :to which the -.rswitch elements to be loperated are secured.

The lower afoot 2 3 is aprovided wit-1111a :toe Emem- Widedwithasprojiectiommor abutment, 2! Tbentupswardly and .at rigilrt angles :to the'foot lih'e abutment 22], when lt-he zp'arts ame in the iposition showndn Figs. li-and 2,-lfaees in .a qtlaneaparfilel to the plate :Il 'L The: abutment 2F! provided in iitsiorward face at its:mid:region with azcylindrical ibutton -2 8.

'The left handmart3' llo'f the armature :carrying Loperator L-tram'e is identi'ca'l in shape to the .part 521 but :in assembled posiztion with reference :to

.021 a horizontal zaxis.

ECh'e rlett-ih and .part has the parts 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31 and .33 which corre- :spond, :respeetiyely, to -elements 22.2 to :28 as to structure and substantially as to :function.

"The hole's .:|2 .and istare thessutfaces facing the buttons 2'28 and L38 vprovided. with similar buttons :3mand40.

The upper iirame fill is hooked :over the tab 532 and abutment 3"! whereas the lower frame :1 .1 :is ihooleed over the abutment 2?! and the tab :lI-3.

-A compression spring 41 xlisposed' between :the

.The 56 tension and the :armature carrying operator is thus held on plate II. The elements I], l1, [1, 2|, 3!, 4| and 42 thus form a unitary assembly that may be mounted on the E-shaped magnet as a unit by the two small screws 43 and 44.

The armature I4 is secured to the armature operating member by a suitable shaft 45 rotatably disposed in the bearings 46. From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the armature actuated parts move substantially rectilinearly, since the construction is functionally in the nature of a parallelogram having pivotally mounted side members and end members.

Further, since the frames [1 and I1 are of relatively thin material, the bearings for these frame members are substantially knife edge. Friction loss is thus a minimum.

The frames for the end elements of the parallelogram structure need not be as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In fact the preferred embodiment is as shown in Fig. 4. For either type of frame the opening in the frame is such as to readily receive the end tabs on the plate II but the end shape, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, is such that as the frame slips to its end, or operating, position, the frame is locked in position and cannot be removed without compressing the compression springs.

While I have shown but one embodiment, except for the frames l1 and 20, my invention is not limited to the single showing made but is to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. An operating means for an electromagnetic switch, comprising, a stationary magnet structure provided with means at one end for supporting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil for the magnet structure, a plate mounted at the other end, said plate being longer than the width of said structure and so mounted on the structure that the ends thereof at each end project beyond the magnet structure, an operating member including abutments disposed transverse of the width of the magnet structure and including guide means disposed in juxtaposition to the other end of said magnet structure to thus guide the operating member for substantially rectilinear movement, an armature mounted on the lower portion of the operating member, a frame of relatively thin flat material disposed to have its end hooked over the upper abutment of the operating member and the upper projecting end of the plate, a similar frame at the lower end of the operating member similarly disposed between the plate and lower abutment of the operating members, and two compression springs disposed respectively between the upper projection of the plate and the upper abutment and the lower projection of the plate and the lower abutment.

2. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contractor comprising, in combination, an E-shaped magnet structure having a stem and three legs, means on one outer leg of the structure for mounting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil on the middle leg, a plate secured to the edge of the other outer leg, said plate projecting beyond the edge of the stem and the ends of the legs, a cage having a pair of crossbars, one normally disposed in spaced facing relation to one end of the plate, and the other similarly disposed with relation to the other end of the plate, an armature secured on the cage adjacent the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the end of the middle leg, said cage having side members disposed in closely spaced ill 4 relation to the leg carrying the plate to thus guide the cage for movement parallel to the faces of the E-shaped magnet structure, a rectangular frame of relatively thin material hooked over one end of the plate and on the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the one end of the plate, a second similar frame similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and corresponding cross-bar, two compression springs one disposed to coact with one plate end and corresponding cross-bar and the other disposed to coact with the other plate end and the cross-bar facing this other plate end, said cage, plate, and springs forming a unitary assembly that may be mounted and removed from the magnet structure as a unit to facilitate replacement of the energizing coil.

3. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contactor comprising, in combination, an E-shaped magnet structure having a stem and three legs, means on one outer leg of the structure for mounting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil on the middle leg, a plate secured to the edge of the other'outer leg, said plate projecting beyond the edge of the stem and the ends of the legs, a cage having a pair of cross-bars, one normally disposed in spaced facing relation to one end of the plate and the other similarly disposed with relation to the other end of the plate, a flat projection on each cross-bar disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plate, an armature secured on the cage adjacent the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the end of the middle leg, said cage having side members disposed in closely spaced relation to the leg carrying the plate to thus guide the cage for movement parallel to the faces of the E-shaped magnet structure, a rectangular frame of relatively thin material hooked over one end of the plate and on the projection on the cross-bar disposed in facing rela tion to the one end of the plate, a second similar frame similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and corresponding cross-bar, two compression springs one disposed to coact with one plate end and corresponding cross-bar and the other disposed to coact with the other plate end and the cross-bar facing this other plate end, said cage, plate, and springs forming a unitary assembly that may be mounted and removed from the magnet structure as a unit to facilitate replacement of the energizing coil.

4. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contactor comprising, in combination, an E-shaped magnet structure having a stem and three legs, means on one outer leg of the structure for mounting the structure on a suitable base, an energizing coil on the middle leg, a plate secured to the edge of the other outer leg, said plate projecting beyond the edge of the stem and the ends of the legs, a cage having a pair of cross-bars, one normally disposed in spaced facing relation to one end of the plate and the other similarly disposed with relation to the other end of the plate, a flat projection on each cross-bar disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plate, said plate being provided with a V-shaped notch at each end, the open ends thereof being directed away from the cross-bars, said projections each being provided with a V-shaped notch, the open ends thereof being directed away from the plate, an armature secured on the cage adjacent the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the end of the middle leg, said cage having side members disposed in closely spaced relation to the leg carrying the plate to thus guide the cage for movement parallel to the faces of the E-shaped magnet structure, a rectangular frame of relatively thin material hooked over one end of the plate into the V-shaped notch and on the V-shaped notch in projection on the cross-bar disposed in facing relation to the one end of the plate, a second similar frame similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and corresponding cross-bar, two compression springs one disposed to coact with one plate end and corresponding cross-bar and the other disposed to coact with the other plate end and the cross-bar facing this other plate end, said cage, plate and springs forming a unitary assembly that may be mounted and removed from the magnet structure as a unit to facilitate replacement of the energizing coil.

5. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contactor comprising, in combination, a plate in a general sense rectangular in shape, a cage member having end portions disposed in parallel relation to the ends of the plate, a pair of rectangular frames each of relatively thin material and generally the contour of a picture frame, one of said frames being hooked at one end over one end of the plate and the other end over the facing end portion on the cage member and the other of said frames being similarly mounted at the other end of the plate and the corresponding facing end portion of the cage, a compression spring disposed between the other end of the plate and the facing end portion on the cage member to thus subject the second frame to tension, a magnet structure fitting into the cage, said plate being secured to the magnet structure whereby the cage is free to move substantially rectilinearly, an armature secured to the cage member in the region of one of the end portions, and an energizing magnet structure for acting on the armature.

6. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contactor, comprising, in combination, a

fiat member having two tabs projecting from the edge thereof at substantially diametrical regions of the member, a cage member in the form of an open frame having two tabs projecting from the second member at substantially diametrical regions of the second member, a rectangular open frame of relatively thin material hooked over one pair of tabs on the flat member and cage member and a similar rectangular open frame of relatively thin material hooked over the other pair of tabs on the fiat member and cage member to thus form a parallelogram type assembly, two compression springs one disposed substantially in the plane of one rectangular member and the other disposed substantially in the plane of the other rectangular member, said springs engaging the fiat member and cage member to thus subject the rectangular frames to tension, a magnet structure fitting into the cage memher to abut against the flat member,'means for securing the flat member to the magnet structure, whereby the cage member is disposed for movement substantially rectilinearly with reference to the magnet structure, an armature mounted on the cage member, and an energizing coil on the magnet structure for actuating the armature.

'7. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable contactor comprising, in combination, a parallelogram construction including a pair of side members, a pair of open frame end members of thin material hooked over corresponding ends of the side members, two compression springs disposed respectively between corresponding ends of the side members substantially within the frames of the end members to thus hold the parts together as a unit, a, magnet structure, one of said side members being in the form of an open frame to receive the magnet structure between the edges of the frame; means securing the other side member to one end of the magnet structure, means at the other end of the magnet structure for securing the magnet structure to a suitable base, or'control panel, an armature secured at the region of one of the freely movable corners of the parallelogram construction, and an energizing coil disposed on the magnet structure for actuating said armature.

-8. Operating means for an electromagnetically operable device comprising, in combination, a magnetic base, a parallelogram construction including a pair of side members provided with tabs at their ends, which tabs are disposed in parallel relation with the side members, a pair of end members of relatively thin material and in the general shape of a picture frame having their ends hooked over corresponding tabs of the side members, whereby the end members by reason of the thinness of the material form knife-edge bearings on the tabs, a single compression spring disposed between the tabs at one end, a similar singlecompression spring similarly disposed at the .other end, whereby said springs hold the parallelogram construction together as a unit, one side member being secured to the base, an armature secured to the other side member, and means for actuating the armature.

JOHN C. PONSTINGL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,310,056 Bendz Feb. 2, 1943 2,360,744 Van Valkenburg et al. Oct. 17, 1944 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 545,478 France Oct. 12, 1922 635,727 France Mar. 23, 1928 

